Artscene With Erika Funke

Sasha Margolis, violinist, author, composer, arranger, speaking about his novel, "The Tsimbalist." Margolis is a violinist with the NEPA Philharmonic and the orchestra of Glimmerglass Opera. He is co-founder of the eclectic ensemble Big Galut(e). The novel is set in 1871 in eastern Europe and is a detective story with Avrom, the tsimbalist, as protagonist. For more information: Facebook.com/thetsimbalist

Chason Goldschmitz, who will become Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic on January 1, 2025, speaking about his life in music, his work with soprano Renee Fleming and his vision for the orchestra, as he prepares to take the helm. For more information on the NEPA Philharmonic and the 2024-2025 season as it continues: www.nepaphil.org/

Alan Stout, Executive Director of Visit Luzerne County, music journalist, radio host & event producer, speaking about the northeastern PA music scene over the years and about all the region has to offer. His long-running radio show, "Music on the Menu," can be heard Sunday nights at 9:00 on 105 The River. Facebook.com/musiconthemenu and www.visitluzernecounty.com/

Adriana Beers, owner and artistic director of In2YouArts in Stroudsburg, speaking with reporter Isabela Weiss of WVIA News at the opening of the Gallery at 530 Main about the arts, business and education in the region after the closing of the Pocono Arts Council.  Beers' arts school shares space at 530 Main with the Gallery. The inaugural exhibition is titled, "Artists of the Poconos," and it will run through February 15, 2025.  Gallery hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4. www.shermantheater.com/

Dr. Darlene Miller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery and member of the faculty of the Art & Music program at the University of Scranton, speaking with WVIA's Mindy Cronk about celebrated artist Franz Kline who was inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame on November 8, 2024. For more information: www.facebook.com/LCAEHOF

Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Spiritual Leader of Temple Hesed in Scranton, speaking about the performance of "Shterna and the Lost Voice" by the Magid Ensemble on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 6 pm, at the Jewish Community Center, 601 Jefferson Avenue in Scranton. There is a storyteller, a cranky box and live Klezmer music. Admission is free. www.scrantonjcc.org/ www.templehesed.org/

Amy Carter Casimir, Artistic Director, and Trey Casimir, Producer, speaking about "A Lewisburg Victorian Nutcracker" to be presented in partnership with the RiverStage Community Theatre, on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Greenspace Center, 815 Market Street in Lewisburg, at 2 pm (sold out) and at 7 pm. For information & tickets: www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Christopher Gallo, Artistic Director of the Lyric Consort, speaking about The Lyric Consort Christmas concerts to be presented on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 7:30 pm at the Hawley United Methodist Church, 315 Church Street, as part of Hawley Winterfest. And again on Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. www.lyricconsort.org/

12122024ChrisGallo by WVIA Public Media

William Payn, Music Director & Conductor of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, speaking about the annual Candlelight Christmas concerts to be presented on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7:30 pm and again Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 pm, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, PA. There will be works for chorus, organ, harp, flute, brass and percussion. www.svcmusic.org/

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director and Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking about the concert titled, "Magical Holiday Journey," to be presented Friday, December 13, 2024, at 7:30 pm at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street in downtown Williamsport. Joining in will be the WAHS Choir and the Williamsport Chamber Choir. The concert will feature music from film scores by John Williams , a carol sing-along & more. www.CACLIVE.com/ or williamsportsymphony.org/

Jack Swersie, artist & arts advocate, speaking about the exhibition titled, "Artists of the Poconos" at the Gallery at 530 Main in downtown Stroudsburg. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 5 to 8 pm, and the show will run until February 15, 2025. Gallery hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. For more information: www.shermantheater.com/

Melisse Brunet, Music Director & Conductor of the NEPA Philharmonic, and Chason Goldschmitz, newly-appointed Executive Director, speaking about the 2024 Holiday Concerts on Saturday, December 7 at 7 pm at the FM Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and again Sunday, December 8 at 3 pm at the Scranton Cultural Center. www.nepaphil.org or 570-270-44440

Justin O'Hearn, Director, speaking about the original holiday play "Grandpa's Jazz Christmas Adventure" by Tony Schwartz and Roxann Schwartz, presented by Diva Theater at the Olde Brick Theatre, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton from December 6 through December 15, 2024. There will be shows Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton.com

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the 2024 Christmas concerts on Saturday, December 7 at 4 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman Street in Allentown; Also Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center Street in Bethlehem. The concert will be available via Livestream on December 8 at 4 pm (bach.org). There will be music by Bach and Kile Smith with carols for an audience sing-along. www.bach.org/

Dr. Alan Hack, Founding Music Director & Conductor, and David Hamilton, President of the Board and Choir Member, speaking about the holiday concert titled, "The Work of Christmas" to be presented by the Jubilate Choir & Brass Ensemble on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 7 pm and Sunday, December 8 at 3pm, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market Street in Bloomsburg. The program will feature John Rutter's Gloria and other pieces of the season. Joining the Choir will be organist Carl Ruck. Admission is free. For more information, you can find them on Facebook or call 570-784-4515

Dr. Olapeju Simoyan, practicing addiction medicine physician & professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, who is affiliated with Reading Hospital, speaking about her new book titled, "I Played My Best for Him: The Inspiring Stories Behind The Little Drummer Boy & Other Christmas Favorites." There is a companion CD/Album as well. Dr. Simoyan will be part of Take Heart Counseling's "Deck the Stalls" on December 7, 2024 in Wernersville, PA--at 11:30 am & 12:30 pm. There will be a book signing/launch on December 8 in Gilbertsville, PA at The Crossroads Guitars and Art from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. www.the doctorwriter.com/

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking about the program titled, "Love's Light Abounds: A Holiday Celebration in Song," to be presented Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 at 3 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 S. Franklin St. in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and again on Sunday, Dec 8 at 3 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Admission is free. www.arcadiachorale.org/

Bob McCormick, Artist & Author, and Mark Peterson, Executive Director of the Hazleton Art League, speaking about the exhibition of McCormick's work titled, "Reclamation: From Coal Dust to Hope," which will open at the HAL Gallery on December 6, 2024 and run through January 19, 2025. There will be an opening reception on December 6th from 5:00 to 8:00 and a Coffee Talk on December 8th from 1:00 to 3:00. There is a companion book of the same title that will be available as well. The HAL Gallery is in the Hayden Family Center for the Arts at 31 West Broad Street in Hazleton, and for more information: www.hazletonartleague.org/

Marko Marcinko, drummer & band leader, speaking about the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band and its concert titled, "The Swinging Jazz Nutcracker Suite" at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00, in Lemmond Theater. The program will include narration and a light reception beginning at 6:00. For tickets and information: misericordia.edu/nutcracker